A psych revolution
Work with Rwanda vets changed the way ADF psychologists think

Australian soldiers serving with UNAMIR II, pass through Kibeho displaced persons camp in Rwanda. Photo by Cpl Geoff Fox, 1MSU

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

IT IS believed that 20 per cent of the 600 ADF personnel who served in Rwanda may still suffer from some form of psychological distress due to their service, but the Rwanda vets have also left a very positive contribution to ADF mental health.

Their legacy is the participation by members from the second contingent in a six-year study into the psychological effects of their service, a study that has helped to revolutionise the ADF’s approach towards managing the potential trauma of operational deployment.

In the early 1990s, it was believed that the most efficient method of dealing witxh psychologically traumatising events was to bring affected people together in a group setting and have them talk about their experiences.

But the experiences of ADF psychologists and medical personnel, combined with the six-year research program into the experiences of the Rwanda veterans, have changed how the ADF counsels its members.

The Rwandan research of Lt-Col Stephanie Hodson, with which she completed her PhD, showed how each individual had different experiences, and so group discussions were not as effective for ADF personnel as individual counselling.

“This feedback, in combination with the findings coming from scientific research, has resulted in the current model of psychological support to operations within the ADF,” she said.

Currently, the ADF support model is comprised of three elements – pre-deployment psychological preparation, deployed personnel support and post-deployment psycho-education, screening and follow-up.

Lt-Col Hodson said the aim of the model is to arm personnel with information, coping strategies and outlets for dealing with negative experiences on their deployment.

While the figure of one-in-five persons with post-trauma problems for Rwanda veterans is high, the figures for civilians suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a traumatic event are even higher. This is because traumatic events usually occur without warning, like the Bali bombing.

Lt-Col Hodson explained that ADF personnel, on the other hand, expect that they will see or experience something bad.
“An event becomes traumatic when the individual feels a sense of complete helplessness, or lack of control, that results in the individual doubting their survival,” she said.

“In military situations where there is strong leadership, personnel are confident in their training and there is an expectation of facing adversity.”

Researchers are critically examining what can be done, from recruit training through to exercises and pre-deployment training, so that the individual’s psychological resilience can be primed for future experiences.